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Ziegler nursing sore ribs, but ready to go

7/22/14: A liner by J. D. Martinez hits Brad Ziegler, but Ziegler stays in the game

By Steve Gilbert
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MLB.com |

PHILADELPHIA -- D-backs right-hander Brad Ziegler was available to pitch Friday for the first time since being hit in the ribs by a line drive on Tuesday night.

Ziegler was still sporting a nasty bruise on his chest, but after playing catch prior to batting practice at Citizens Bank Park, he declared himself ready to go.

"[My ribs are] sore and they probably will be for a while, but I'm good to go," Ziegler said. "If it's just a matter of pain tolerance, I'm fine -- I can tolerate almost anything. It was more a matter of, 'Is it going to force me to change my delivery because of it?' And throwing today I was fine, so I'll give it a go."

Ziegler, who has been the team's most consistent reliever this year, was not available for Wednesday's game against the Tigers, and the D-backs had a scheduled off-day Thursday.